The Waterways Journal
5 January 2009
By David Murray
The rip tides of an economy in recession halted operations by RiverBarge Excursion Lines, which ran the River Explorer, the only floating hotel barge on America's rivers.
The River Explorer in Paducah, Kentucky, in 2008. — Photo by Jeff L. Yates
Owner Eddie Conrad called the December 22 announcement of the cancellation of the 2009 cruising season a "dark day." He said the move was required by soft bookings and increased costs.
On September 24, the unique floating hotel had celebrated its 10th birthday at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis with a party for guests and crew. It conducted cruises along the Mississippi and Ohio river systems, the Intracoastal Waterway and the bayous of Louisiana.
Deposits for 2009 cruises are in an escrow account at New Orleans' Whitney Bank controlled by the Federal Maritime Commission, according to a RiverBarge Excursions source quoted in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. In an e-mail to travel agents, the company promised that refunds would be sent to all who booked 2009 trips.
Built in 1998, the River Explorer is actually two connected 295-foot barges named after two early Mississippi River explorers. The forward De Soto and the aft LaSalle, which contained the staterooms, each had their own elevators. The barges could host 196 guests (double occupancy).
The barges were propelled by the mv. Miss Nari, which Conrad himself helped renovate. The Miss Nan claimed to be the first towboat in the Mississippi River system with a twin-propulsion 3,000 hp. Niigata Z Peller 360-degree unit capable of turning the entire tow.
The River Explorer will be turned over to the Maritime Administration, which holds its bonds. But Conrad said he hopes to buy back the River Explorer if the economy improves. He told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "I hope it will be available in the future if the economy might turn around. All we're saying right now is the 2009 schedule is canceled for now is the 2009 schedule is canceled for lack of interest."
Conrad had worked on the rivers since the age of 16 and founded Compass Towing Company Inc. in 1963. In 1971 it changed its name to Compass Marine Services Inc. Located at Algiers Point in New Orleans, it had more than 40 boats and 500 employees at one time. Compass still operates today in New Orleans.
In 1990, Conrad founded RV River Charters, a company whose specially designed barges carried RV's on cruises in Louisiana and along the Mississippi River. The response to that company gave him the idea for the River Explorer. He founded RiverBarge Excursion Lines Inc. in 1995.
Conrad has received many honors and awards, including Maritime Person of the Year from the New Orleans Propeller Club; Maritime Man of the Year from the Greater New Orleans Barge Fleeting Association; the Millennium Award from the Maritime Navigation Safety Association; and the National Achievement Award from the National Rivers Hall of Fame.